Syracuse University
RV Villanova University
Orange Earns No. 1 Seed in BIG EAST Championship
10/23/2009 11:00:33 PM | Field Hockey
VILLANOVA, Pa. – The fifth-ranked Syracuse Orange field hockey team earned at least a share of the BIG EAST regular-season title and will be the No. 1 seed in the BIG EAST Championship with its 5-3 victory at Villanova on Friday night at Villanova Stadium under rainy and cold conditions. Junior back Maggie Befort became the Syracuse's all-time leading scorer with 98 career points. Syracuse's 12th consecutive win improved its record to 15-1 overall and 5-0 in the BIG EAST. Villanova moved to 8-7, 2-3.
Freshman back Amy Kee recorded two goals and an assist, while Befort and sophomore midfield Martina Loncarica both tallied a goal and two assists for the Orange. Junior forward Lindsey Conrad added a goal for Syracuse.
“Villanova played a great game and really challenged us,” head coach Ange Bradley said. “It was a very exciting game, but we were able to make plays when we need them most. I am proud that we were able to get out of Villanova with a victory.”
The back and forth matchup provided plenty of goals in the first half. The Orange was first to get on the scoreboard when Kee connected with Befort and Loncarica off a penalty corner for the first goal of the game. Exactly two minutes later, the Wildcats found the equalizer when Dana Ramsden took a straight shot to goal from a Sabatini pass to sneak the ball past Syracuse graduate goalie Ashleigh McGowan and even the score to 1-1.
In the 30th minute, Befort was in the right place at the right time when she put the ball to the low post off a Kee pass. Going into halftime, Syracuse led the contest by a 2-1 margin.
To begin the second half, Ramsden found the back of the cage off a penalty corner opportunity when Lauren Wuzzardo put a perfectly placed ball near goal. With 34 minutes left to play, the score was tied, 2-2.
Five minutes later, Kee found the cage off another Syracuse corner. On the play, assists were credited to Loncarica and Befort.
Villanova saw one more goal by Abby Sordoni in the 43rd minute when she took a breakaway to goal off a Meredith Sabatini pass.
Syracuse ended the contest with two more goals in the 47th and 61st minute. Loncarica scored off a penalty stroke and Conrad found the cage from a reverse stick shot to the far post. The final would favor Syracuse, 5-3.
McGowan recorded one save while freshman Leann Stiver finished the game in cage for the Orange. Villanova's Megan Goelz played all 70 minutes in cage and made 14 saves in the loss.
The Orange outshot the Wildcats, 36-5, and held a 23-1 advantage on penalty corners.
Syracuse concludes its regular-season road schedule at No. 10 Boston College on Sunday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m.
